Letter: EMRs will cut costs

I learned over 60 years ago that people resist change, and some even resent change. But that’s what I did for a living; as an efficiency expert, I told people how to improve their internal operations and save money in the process. EMRs will do that.

It’s a step-by-step approach; not so much in the beginning, but with each new improvement there will be greater acceptance and ease of operation along with reduced costs.

Since most small operations like doctors’ offices usually can’t justify the expense of an industrial engineering consultant, the government had to tell the doctors and hospitals to implement EMRs. If not, they would be still using their computers as bookkeeping machines. Believe me, every time I walk into a doctor’s office or hospital, I see a fertile field for improvements.

Change is coming to health care, and patients and health care workers will be the beneficiaries. One change I see on the horizon is the implementation of a National Identification Card. A multipurpose card containing all of the existing personal identification data, but also including certain medical data that would enhance the EMRs. This card could be used for entrance interviews during first-time appointments at doctor’s offices, pharmacies and hospitals.

Swipe the card and a rudimentary record is created. Change doctors or cities. Have an automobile accident, the EMT swipes your card. Go to the emergency room, the nurse swipes your card.

I should also add that Obamacare won’t bring about the saving in costs to the patient because the hundreds of participating health insurance companies complicate and burden the overall health care system. We need to streamline Medicare into a single-payer nonprofit system and, yes, eliminate health insurance companies.